Everything head coach Jeff Lebby said in Monday's press conference

Mississippi State returns to action Saturday and continues its homestand against Arkansas with a 11:45 a.m. kickoff at Davis Wade Stadium. On Monday, head coach Jeff Lebby held his weekly press conference and previewed that matchup among other topics:

Q: After reviewing the tape, did anything stand out to you of the Texas A&M game?
Lebby: I think we covered a bunch of it on Saturday. As we look back, defensively, again, our normal first and second down defense was as good as we’ve played all year long. Being able to create 16 third downs, then not being able to get off the field on third down was the difference in playing really good defense. That’s where our strain will be this week.

Offensively, not settling for field goals, having the ability to score now when we have that opportunity, and then finding ways inside the game where there’s these very small situations you can only see when you get back to the tape. Understanding that one missed block, one missed leverage block truly has the chance to be the difference in the game. There were many examples from that standpoint that you go back and you watch and you truly have a chance to change the game. It is just a fine line when you play great football teams of being on the right side or the wrong side.

Q: Your thoughts on Stone Blanton and his play the last couple of games?
Lebby: I’ve seen him just play faster. A guy that has continued to trust what is being asked of him and continued to just get more comfortable inside the scheme. I’ve seen great growth in that on the defensive side of the ball. Again, there are times we have to be better. 14 of the points that A&M is able to go score they had an incredibly short field. We don’t get off the field on 4th and 3 when we have a chance to hold them to a field goal on that drive. To me, I am encouraged by our effort, our toughness, our physicality. We got to continue to tackle better and we’ve got to make the layups to give us a chance to win.

Q: What attracted you the most to Kevin Coleman when he was in the transfer portal?
Lebby: In the portal when we looked at him, I thought he had the ability to be a really good ball-in-hand guy. You saw that in the return game when you watched him at his previous place and when he got the ball in his hands, was able to do good things with it. I thought that was the guy we were getting, also a guy that has the ability to make plays down the field, which we’ve seen him do. I think eight targets, eight receptions (last Saturday). Proud of how he’s continued to get better and make the most of every opportunity he gets.

Q: With the turnovers the defense is creating, are you seeing any progress on that side of the ball?
Lebby: That’s been a huge deal. We’ve got to continue to play complimentary football. The first pick we get, we get great field position and we’re not able to score a touchdown. That has to happen for us and we did take advantage of it in the second half. We did have a couple of opportunities to make huge plays on that first drive of the second half and you got a chance to change momentum and swing the game. Got to continue to do that and play with great eyes and great discipline to give us a chance. When we have a chance to go make it, go make it.

Q: How close do you feel this team is to getting over the hump?
Lebby: I feel it. Our guys inside the building feel it every single day. It is an incredibly fine line where we have a chance to have a happy locker room if two things are different inside the game. It’s that close. Us understanding that with our preparation, dialing in to that piece of that and out-preparing our opponent starting today and finding a way to make that jump. There has been great improvement. We’ve gotten better but we need to get better and need to win. That’s what were striving to go do.

Q: Your thoughts on Zakari Tillman?
Lebby: He’s continued to have really good growth and what’s being asked of him. This is a young
guy that hasn’t played a ton of defensive snaps and his best ball is ahead. He’s a twitchy guy that loves the game and I think has a great future here with us and excited about his growth and potential.

Q: Any update on Mario Craver?
Lebby: I do not and won’t until Wednesday evening.

Q: If Craver is not able to go, how does that change things with your receivers group?
Lebby: I think you’ve seen guys play out there whether it be JMo (Jordan Mosley), Kelly (Akharaiyi), Kevin being able to play inside, Stonka (Burnside) played more the last couple of weeks, offensively, which has been good for us. He’s continued to prepare the right way, which has given him the ability to go in and do some good things for us. I feel from a depth standpoint we’re in a good spot if we’re not able to have (Craver).

Q: Is there any carryover from last week’s game prep of Texas A&M to Arkansas?
Lebby: There is a little bit of carryover. When you watch Arkansas, Pitt (Sam Pittman) has done an unbelievable job of getting those guys to find a way to win the close games. As he’s been there, that’s what they’re doing right now. Last week for them didn’t go, obviously, the same as it had the weeks before. But finding a way to beat Tennessee at home, finding a way to beat Auburn in a really close game. To me, that’s where they’ve made really big strides.

You see a physical football team that plays with a ton of effort. It’s all over the tape and it’s in all three phases. Another really good SEC opponent that has won two SEC games. They’ll be coming in here Saturday morning and we’ll have to go play for victory.

Q: What all did you see from Michael Van Buren when you were recruiting him?
Lebby: With Mike, having him in camp and just being able to see exactly what we saw on tape and person was the biggest thing for me. When we had him in camp, he was a guy that was incredibly smooth, really accurate, had a clean release and a guy I thought had really good anticipation. As you watch the tape and then get to watch him in person and evaluate him in person, those things matched up. I thought he had an incredible future ahead of him.

He’s gotten here, has been incredibly bought in, done a really good job of preparing the right way and getting better and better. From a freshman standpoint, I don’t know and I think all guys are a little different. There are plenty of freshmen out there playing that are struggling. So for Mike, he has found a way to continue to get better every single week. We’re gonna need that again.

Q: We saw Blake Shapen with a boot on his foot Saturday. Did he hurt his foot?
Lebby: He did not and I thought that might come up. But his foot is fine and he is out of the boot today.

Q: When you are recruiting quarterbacks, what specifics are you looking for?
Lebby: The physical pieces are the physical pieces. We want a guy that can make every throw, has great anticipation, has great accuracy and a clean motion. A guy that can get the ball out of his hand the right way. So he can do all of those things. From an intangible standpoint, we’re looking for a guy that plays with great toughness, plays with edge that wants to compete, not scared to go out there and go to war and put the team on his back and give somebody an opportunity to go win the game.

Again, I am proud of him for a lot of different reasons. The toughness he showed on Saturday, to me it was big time. That will create great growth. He inspires his teammates to fight their butt off a little more for him with the way he stood in there and took some shots. Again, he has to get a lot better and we all have to get a lot better. But how he goes about his business it was it needs to look like.

Q: How important is the home crowd advantage for your team with a morning kickoff?
Lebby: It is a huge deal for us. I talked a little bit about it after the game and can’t say it enough. My appreciation for our fanbase and for that stadium to be the way it was on Saturday with us going through the things we’re going through right now, it was incredibly special. It was special for our recruits to see our fanbase create so much noise and show support for us in a time where things haven’t been perfect by any stretch. That will be a big thing for us Saturday. We will have a beautiful day for it and have a great SEC opponent coming to town and we need a great environment.

Q: It seems like in your offenses, you have one main receiver from a production standpoint. Why does that happen often?
Lebby: I think we’re always trying to find the mismatch. We’re always trying to find a way to put the ball in someone’s hands that has continued to be really productive and create some predictable outcomes. I think showcasing a player matters. When you have the ability to lean on a guy that has continued to make plays for you, you got to find ways to keep getting him the ball. The last thing I want is to look up Saturday afternoon after a game and come out of it and (Coleman) has two targets. That’s not what it’s supposed to look like and I think that’s another reason it’s been that way.